Apparatus for handling shells and similar objects



Dc. 26, 1944. M J, BAYHI ET AL 2,365,930

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING SHELLS AND SIMILAR OBJECTS Filed March 31, 1943 2Sheets-Sheet l D-@ 19441 M. J. BAW-u ET AL 2,365,930

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING SHELLS AND SIMILAR OBJECTS Filed March 5l, 1945Sheets-Sheet 2 HIM Patented Dec. 26, 1944 UNITED STATE APPARATUSlOR'JHANDLI-NGv f SHELLS AND 1:

SIMILAR OBJECTS.

MarcelJ. Bayhi, Texarkana, Ark'., andi Albert E.

Lilja, Texarkana, Tex., assignorsto'TheB. F.' GoodrichCompany,New"Yrk";` N Y., av'corporation of New York Application March 31,1943,.Serial.=No.'I 481,186.'

(CII 29'4-87)`" 13 Claims.

This invention relates to an apparatus for holding objects in a firmgrip preparatory` to and while lifting andA transporting the same fromone place to another, and relates particularly. to an apparatus forholding4 a pair of cylindrical obiects, such as cannon shells and thelike, preparatory to and while lifting and transportingthe same.

One object of this invention is to provide an efficient, easily operableapparatus for holding objects, particularly heavy objects, in a iirmgrip sothat they may be lifted and, if desired, `trans. ported. Anotherobject is to provide an apparatus for holding heavy cylindrical objectssuch as cannon shells and the like in a firm grip. Still another objectis to provide an apparatus with which two objects. lying closelytogether may be gripped at the same time and in the same operation. Oneother object is to provide an apparatus with which two closely adjacentand substantially parallel cannon shells may be gripped and rheld atthesame time and in the same operation so that they may be lifted,transported, or otherwise handled. Other objects of this invention willbecome apparent in the detailed description of the invention thatispresented hereinafter.

We attain alljthese objects,and similar ones, by providing an apparatushaving, in combination with other elements of the apparatus, rotatableholding' means having atleast one'surface shaped to t substantially alower surface of the object to be lifted so as to at least partiallysupport the object. We also provide means fr'rotating the rotatableholding means until the shaped surfaceiits the corresponding surface' oflthe article to be' lifted. Because this' holding'A meansis rotatableitisuseful `for handling Vtwov objects at once as itcanbe slipped" inbetweenl two closely adjacent objects and then rotated intoholdingrposition withv respect toY bothA of them thereby providing ameans for grasping-'and hold'- ingiboth-objectsin the-sameoperation;l'or'con venience it is desirable that grasping' means be' provided forgrasping" the loweroutside surfaces' of 'each of the'two objects soas'to hold the' objects in contact with the shaped surfaces oftherotatable holding means. These can conveniently be inw the form` ofcurved armsforl engaging and grasping theoutsides of the objects, suchas cannon shells. It is desirallethat means be providedforsimultaneously rotating the'rotatable holding' means into positionand'moving the curved arms into grasping position around the outsiderAofthe shells; For.' additional safetyv` handling heavy by handle meansAon the apparatus for immovably locking each shellin placez This:inventionwcan best.be understood by reerence to the accompanyingdrawings, of which Fig. 1 isanelevation showing the apparatus ofthisinventionbeing lowered over two shells and withr all holding means nopen position;

Fig. 2 is an elevation. ofthe apparatus showing the holding meansirrclosedy position and with portonszohthe vstructure brokenaway forclarity f of.,i1lustration;y

Fig.. 3.isa..viewlooking down on the topofthe apparatus.with .theholding means in .open position;`

Fig. laissa sectiongtakemalong line 4 4 of Egxz;

Fig. 5.is` anv end View oftheapparatus with the holding4meansin.closedpositiom and Fig. 6 `is Aa perspective otthecam of theapparatus Awith attached handle. means. for. operating the. caIIL l Inthe'accompanying, drawings there is shown ari-.embodiment of.th-isinvention for use in handling` heavycannonshells andthe like. Withthis apparatustheheavyshells, indicated at I il,Y I0, are heldin pairsin a firm grip so that .they can be veasily lifted andtransported `fromone position orjplaceto another.. Thisapparatus includes a rotatableVertical shaft I I progressingY at its lower end. into a `flatplate I2having a .straight bottom I3 and' two` curved edge surfaces I4, I4 eachshaped so as to contactand conform to a lower circumferentialsurface ofa cannon shell I El, I0 and partially support it. The other end of, thevertical shaft lliskeyedto a cam I5 (Fig. 6) of circular shapeplaced inhorizontal position within the framework I6 of the apparatus. This camI5 is rprovided-withtwo outwardly extending handles I1;I I1*for turningthe cam I5 and the attached rotatableshaft` I I.

4 Inf-this apparatus;therearealso provided biiur cated' holding-n meanscomprising two pairs of curved "ar-msfljlg'and'f'common arms 20, 20,with eachpai-r of` curved=arms held in spaced-apart relationshipby meansof two rods IB, I9. These common arms" 20, l2111' are Ypivotallylmounted on fulcrum pins-2|;- ZIWith'inthe framework I6 of tle apparatuslThese arms I8, I 8* are so arranged that vveach 4pair grasps, orembraces circumferentially, the -lower-outside/surface of a cannon shellIll-whenall holding means are in closed position. Witliihth'e frameworkI6 and beyond the fulcrum -f pin-'f 2| there are provided two coiledtension objects .there are! also i provided means'f actuated 55springsi22-,22on each ofthe common arms 20, 20. These springs l22E22`lare located'near the endsof toggle arm 29.

the common arms 20, 20 with one end of each spring fastened to theframework I6 and the other end fastened to the arm 20. They serve tohold the end of the arm 20 against the sloped top surface 33 of the camI5 and also tend to pull the arms I8, I8 into their open positions. Thetop surface 33 of the cam I5`is sloped so that when the cam I and therotatable'shaft II are turned by forcing the handle I1 on the cam I5 tothe left the curved arms I8, I8 are forced into embracing positionaround the outside of thev shells III, I Il (as illustrated in Fig. 2).When the rotatable shaft I I, with its rotatable plate I2, and thecurved arms I 8, I8 have reached holding position a safety catch 23,which ordinarily rides on top of the cam surface 33, drops into the deepportion 34 (Fig. 6) of the sloped surface 33 andv prevents the cam I5from turning back and releasing the curved arms I8, I8. This safetycatch 23 is pivotally mounted on the framework I6.

In order to have means for lifting the shells I0, I 0, there is providednear the top of the apparatus a clevis24 comprising a ring 25thatprogresses into a plate 26. This clevis plate 26 has two horizontalslots 21, 21, one on each side of the ring 25, and in eachslot rides apin 28, 28 attached to a toggle arm 29. This toggle arm 29 is curved andhas a fork-like structure' ateach end, the fork-like structure at oneend embracing the slot 21 in the clevis plate 26 and holding theaforementioned pin 28, and the fork-like structure at the other endembracing the rcommen arm of the bifurcated holding means. arm ispivotally mounted on the fulcrum pin 2| that passes through the commonarm 20. This toggle arm arrangement is provided so that when the shellsare lifted by means of the clevis ring each toggle arm pin 28 ridesupward and. outward so that the bearing surface 30 of the toggle armpivoted on the fulcrum 2I bears down on the shell I0 and holds it rmlyclamped into place. Thus it can be seenthat each shelljs held firmly atthree main points: the inner surfaces of the curved arms I8, I8, thecurved edge surface I4 of the plate I2, and the bearing surface of theIn order to maintainA the two shells in perfect parallel alignment whilethey are being lifted there are provided two spacer posts 3 I 3I mountedon a supporting bar 32 in line with the rotatable shaft II and at rightangles to the main body of the apparatus. These spacery posts 3|, 3| arearranged so as to pass down between the shells I0, I0 and hold them inparallel alignment when the apparatus is loweredy over each pair ofshells. i

In utilizing the apparatus of this invention for lifting two cannonshells I0, I0 arranged adjacent and substantially parallel to eachlother, the cam handle I1 is preliminarily turned to the right as far asit will go (Fig. 1). This opens the curved arms I8, I8 and arranges theplate I2 on the rotatable shaft VII sov that it is at a righi-angle tomain body ofthe apparatus. Then when the apparatus is lowered over thetwo shells I0, I0 the arms I8, I8 are ready to grasp the outsidesurfaces of the shells and the rotatable plate I2l is ready to passbetween the shells.. The apparatus is lowered onto the shells and thetwo spacer posts-3|, 3| and the rotatable plate I2 slide between theshells. When the apparatus rests on the top of the two shells I0, I0 thecam handle I1 is turned to the leftas far as it will go and The toggleturns the cam I5 and also turns the rotatable plate I2 at a right angleto the shells. The slopedi surface 33 of the cam, at the same time,forces" the curved arms I8, I8 tightly around the shells' I0, I0. Theapparatus with the held shells is then lifted by means of the clevisring 25 and this causes the toggle pins 28, 28 to ride upward andoutward in the clevis plate slots 21, 21, thereby pivoting the togglearms 29, 29 around the fulcrum 2 I, 2I so that the bearing surfaces 30,30 of the toggle arms 29, 29 press down on the shells I0, It and lockthem securely in position. The cannon shells can then be moved, lifted,and transported safely as they are tightly clasped in the apparatus, andthe heavier the shells the more tightly they are clasped.

After the shells have been transported to their destination they can bereleased by raising the safety catch 23 and turning the cam handle I1back to the right. This opens the curved arms I8, Iand turns therotatable plate I2 backi par allel to the longitudinal axis of theshells. The apparatus here described is so constructed that it may beused for handling one cannoli'. shell, vor other object, as well as two.This is true because each yside "of the apparatus acts independently ofthe other; each side has its curved arms I8, I8, its toggle arm 29, itsbearing surface of the lrotatable plate I2, and so on.

The cam I5 of this apparatus (Fig. 6) is divided intoV two surfaces 33,33, each bearing on the arm 2li ofthe bifurcatedholding means. Eachsurface has va deep portion 34 with a substantially horizontal surface.'As this surface progresses around av half circumference of the cam up t0thetop 35,01 the vcam the angle of the surface increases and, at thesame time, the vsurface be comes narrower. Inthe cam illustrated the surfaces go from an angle of zero degrees to about 19.3 at ,thetop 35 ofthe cam and varies in width from about 0.656 inch to about 0.257 inch.The cam illustrated has a diameter of about 3 inches.

In the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated in thedrawings, suitable arrangements are provided for taking care of the wearon tbecam surface. The cam I5 is provided with a'. threaded center 36extending through the cam.- The rotatable vertical shaft II is alsoprovided` with a corresponding threadso that the cam I5' can be screwedon the post. There is also provideda removable key 31 to fit in a slot38 in the cam and in a corresponding slot in the rotatable post. Whenthe cam wears away a sufficient amount the key 31 is removed, the cam I5unscrewed enough to take care of the wear on the cam I5, and the key 31is replaced, thereby adjusting the cam arrangement to take care of thewear.l l 1 i,

vThe apparatus of this invention as illustrated by'a .preferredembodiment has been described considerable detail to show how it wouldbe constructedand how it would operate for-handling cannon-shells andthe like. It is apparentl that onlyY minor changes would be required tomake an apparatus capable of handling any other ola-- jects desired inthe same manner. These changes- Would apply only to minor details in thestructure and would in no manner affect the inventive concept involved.For these reasons it is desired to claim the invention broadly withinthe spirlt and scope ofthe appended claims. l We claim: Y I 1. In anapparatus for holding generally cy lindrical objects such as cannonshells in a rm corresponding Vsurfaces of the two 2,365,930 `grippreparatory to lifting and transporting the same fromone locationtoanother, apparatus lincluding rotatable "holding means'fo-r inserti-onbetweentwo adjacent and substantially parallel objects and havingsurfaces shaped to-t substantially a lower surface of each object so as`'to support said objects only partially, means for rotating therotatable holding means untilsaid shaped surfaces fit thecorrespondingsurfaces of the two objects, and movable means for holding said objectsagainst the shaped surfacesof the rotatable holding means.

2. In an apparatus for holding generally cylindrical objects such ascannon shells in a firm grip preparatory to lifting and transporting thesame from one'location to another, apparatus including rotatable holdingmeans for insertion between two adjacent and substantially parallelobjects and having surfaces shaped to fit substantially a lower surfaceof each object so as to at least partially support said objects,grasping means for grasping the lower outside surfaces of said objects,means for rotating said rotatable holding 'means until said shapedsurfaces fit the objects, and means for moving said grasping means ingrasping position around the lower outside surface of said objects.

3. `In "an apparatus for holding 'generally cylindrical'objects such ascannon shells in a firm ygrip preparatory to "lifting and transportingthe same from one location to' anothen' apparatusv including rotatableholding means for insertion between two adjacent and substantiallyparallel objects and having surfaces shaped tot substan- I and `meansfor simultaneously rotating e'said rotatable holding vmeans'until lsaidcurved edges t the corresponding surfaces of the two objects and movingsaid curved arms into grasping position around the lower outsidesurfaces of said objects. l6. In an apparatus for holding generallycylindrical objects such ascannon shells in a nrm grip preparatory tolifting and transporting the same from one locationjto another,apparatus including rotatableholding means for insertion between twoadjacent land substantially parallel objects and comprising asubstantially vertical shaft with an attached blade flat at the bottomand with curved edges so constructed andarranged Vas to t substantiallya lower surface of each object to at least partially support saidobjects, Ygrasping means comprising curved arms for grasping the loweroutside surfaces of said objects, means for simultaneously rotating saidrotatable holding 'means until said curved edges fit the correspondingsurfaces of the two objects and moving said curved arms into graspingposition around the lower outside surfaces of said objects, handle meansfor 'lifting the apparatus, and means actuated by said `handle means folocking each objectin place. 7. In an apparatus for holding generallycylindrical objects such as cannon shells in a firm grip preparatory tolifting and transporting the same from one location to anothen'apparatusincluding rotatable holding means for insertion between tially a lowersurface of each object so as to Y at least partially support saidobjects, grasping means for grasping the lower outside surfaces of saidobjects, and means for simultaneously rotating said rotatable holdingmeans until said A shaped surfaces nt the corresponding surfaces of thetwo objects and moving said grasping means into grasping position aroundthe lower outside surfaces of said objects.

4. In an apparatus for' holding generally cy lindrical 'objects such ascannon shells in a firm grip preparatory to lifting and transporting thesaine from one location to another, apparatus including rotatableholding vmeans for insertion between two adjacent and substantiallyparallel objects and having surfaces shaped to fit substantially a lowersurface of each object so as to at least partially support said objects,grasping means for grasping the lower outside surfaces of saidobjectsmeans for simultaneously rotating said rotatable holding meansuntil said shaped surfaces fit the corresponding surfaces of the twoobjects and moving said grasping means in grasping position around thelower outside surfaces of said objects, handle means for lifting theapparatus, and means actuated by said handle means for lockingeachobject in place.

5. In an apparatus for holding generally cylindrical objects such ascannon shells in a firm,

grip preparatory to lifting and transporting the same from one locationto another, apparatus including rotatable holding means for insertionbetween two adjacent and substantially parallel objects and comprising asubstantially vertical shaft with an attached blade broad at the bottomand with curved edges so constructed and arranged as to nt substantiallya lower surface of each object to at least partially support saidobjects, grasping means comprising curved arms for grasping the outsidesurfaces of said objects,

two `adjacent and substantially parallel objects and comprising.asubstant'ially vertical shaft with an attached blade flat at thebottom and with curved edges so constructed and arranged as to i'ltsubstantially a lower surface of each object to at least partiallysupport said objects, grasping means comprising curved arms for graspingthe lower outside surfaces of said objects, means for rotating saidshaft until said curved edges of said blade fit the correspondingsurfaces of the .two objects, means including a cam rotatable with saidshaft for moving said curved arms into grasping position around thelower outside surfaces of said objects, handle means for lifting theapparatus and means actuated by said handle means for locking eachobject in position between a curved blade surface and a curved arm.

8. In an apparatus for holding generally cylindrical objects such ascannon shells in a firm grip preparatory to lifting and transporting thesame from one location to another, apparatus including rotatableholdingmeans for insertion between two adjacent and substantiallyparallel objects and comprising a substantially vertical shaft with anattached blade dat at the bottom and with curved edges so constructedand arranged as to t substantially a lower surface of each object to atleast partially support said objects, grasping means comprising curvedarms for grasping the lower outside surfaces of said objects, means forrotating said shaft until said curved edges of the said blade lit thecorrespond- 'ing surfaces of the two objects, means including a camrotatable with said shaft for moving said curved arms into graspingposition around the jects to engage adjacent o generally opposed outerportions of the two obl jects, the third object-supporting member beingadapted to extend between the two objects to engage adjacent portions ofyboth objects and also being movable into and outofsupporting-engagement with said objects.

10. Apparatus for holding a plurality of objects of the generalcharacter described, said apparatus comprising, in combination, threeobjectsupporting members adapted cooperatively to hold two adjacentobjects, two of said object-supporting members being mounted formovement into and out of holding engagement respectively with generallyopposed outer portions of the two objects, the third object-supportingmember being adapted to portions of both objects and also being movableinto and out of supporting engagement with said objects, and a singlemeans for moving all three supporting members' into supportingengagement with the said obj ects.

11. Apparatus for holding a plurality of objects ofthe general characterdescribed, said apparatus comprising, in combination, threeobjectsupporting members adapted cooperatively to hold two adjacentobjects, two of said members comprising grasping arms movable inwardlyand outwardly into and out of grasping engagement respectively withgenerally opposed outer portions extend between the two obof the twoobjects, the third member being-adapted to be inserted between the saidtwo objects and to engage adjacent portions of both to assist insupporting both said objects, .the said third member being rotatableabout an axis extending between the objects for moving object-engagingportions thereof into and out of'engagement with the said two objects.

12. Apparatus of the character described comprising twoobject-supporting elements adapted cooperatively to support an objecttherebetween, one of said elements being rotatable about a generallyvertical axis to move a portion thereof into and out ofobject-supporting position, the other of said elements being swingabletoward and away from said axis to moVe the second element into and outof its cooperative object-supporting position, and means for so movingsaid elements.

413. Apparatus of the character described cornprising twoobject-supporting elements adapted cooperatively to support an objecttherebetween, one of said elements being rotatable about a generallyvertical axis to move a portion thereof into and out ofobject-supporting position, the other of said elements being swingabletoward and away from said axis to move the second element into and outof its cooperative object-supporting position, and means comprising asingle operatorcontrolled element for so moving both said elements intoand out of their respective objectsupporting positions.

- MARCEL J. BAYHI.

ALBERT E. LILJA.

